# How one High School Kid Turned a Nothing Room into More Pinball

**Source:** Nudge Magazine (website feed)  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2026-02-27  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.nudgepinball.com/articles/how-one-high-school-kid-turned-a-nothing-room-into-more-pinball

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## Analysis

Finn Garman, a high school student in Baltimore, documents how his father converted an abandoned theater tech closet into a functioning pinball arcade with five machines (now four), starting with a Williams Super Star and a $20 EM machine called Fun Land found on Facebook Marketplace. The project evolved into a popular student gathering space featuring classic Gottlieb, Bally, and Williams machines, a Seeberg jukebox, and student-organized tournaments, demonstrating pinball's appeal to the next generation.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] A Williams Super Star was placed in the theater tech closet before a show, and students helped decorate and set up the room. — _Finn Garman's account of the initial setup; described as direct experience_
- [HIGH] A second machine, an old EM called 'Fun Land,' was purchased for $20 on Facebook Marketplace and set up before the show ended. — _Finn Garman's direct account; specific details about timing and price_
- [HIGH] The arcade eventually housed five machines at its peak, then reduced to four to improve accessibility. — _Finn Garman's narrative; explicitly stated in Part II_
- [HIGH] The current lineup includes a Gottlieb Close Encounters, Bally Aladdin's Castle, Williams Flash, Gottlieb Mars God of War, a Legends Ultimate arcade cabinet, and an Arcade1up Mortal Combat Cocktail table. — _Finn Garman's account of current room contents_
- [HIGH] The class of 2022 donated a custom LED sign reading 'Garman's Arcade: ALL PLAYERS READY.' — _Finn Garman's description; specific detail with class year_
- [HIGH] An authentic Seeberg Jukebox with a curated collection of 45s was added to match songs played during the school's 'Rock and Soul' production. — _Finn Garman's account; thematic connection to school productions explained_
- [HIGH] Students gather every Friday to play pinball and listen to 70s Classic Rock on the jukebox. — _Finn Garman's description of ongoing usage_
- [HIGH] Wizard and Speakeasy machines were eventually removed due to content concerns—Wizard's artwork from the 1970s and Speakeasy's theme posed potential issues with school administration. — _Finn Garman's explanation of why specific games were removed_

### Notable Quotes

> "What happens when we run out of pinball space at home, but a good deal comes along? You don't buy the game Convert a high school tech closet into a miniature pinball arcade."
> — **Finn Garman**, Opening section, Part I
> _Sets up the origin story and core premise of the project; demonstrates problem-solving mindset_

> "Better to ask forgiveness than permission."
> — **Finn Garman**, Part I conclusion
> _Encapsulates the opportunistic, entrepreneurial spirit of the project; captures the DIY ethos of converting a school space without explicit approval_

> "One particular student made a point to tell my dad that it wasn't a real arcade, so naturally he made a point to add a game each time she said so. Eventually she realized it was a losing battle at game four."
> — **Finn Garman**, Part II
> _Illustrates the competitive, lighthearted dynamic driving the expansion and the humor in the arcade's growth_

> "It's always great to teach someone where the credit button is for the first time and then see them teach others later."
> — **Finn Garman**, Part II conclusion
> _Reflects the intergenerational aspect of pinball and the role of the arcade in fostering community and knowledge-sharing among students_

> "Damn, Finn. Sounds like a pretty righteous little spot you have over there. Makes me jealous that all we had was Smoker's Corner — and absolutely ZERO pinball machines!"
> — **Nudge Magazine editor (responding to Finn)**, Editor's closing remarks, Part III
> _Validates the achievement and contrasts with the editor's own youth experience; endorses the significance of the project_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Finn Garman | person | High school student in Baltimore pursuing an engineering degree; author and primary subject of the article; founded and documented the high school pinball arcade project |
| Holy Frijoles pinball league | organization | Pinball league in Baltimore where Finn plays; mentioned as part of his pinball community involvement |
| Williams Super Star | game | Classic pinball machine; first game placed in the tech closet by Finn's father; marked the beginning of the arcade project |
| Fun Land | game | Old EM (electromechanical) pinball machine purchased for $20 on Facebook Marketplace; second machine added to the arcade |
| Stern Wildfyre | game | Stern pinball machine; third game added to the high school arcade |
| Bally Wizard | game | Classic Bally pinball machine added to the arcade; eventually removed due to controversial artwork from the 1970s |
| Bally Speakeasy | game | Bally pinball machine added to the arcade; removed due to theme concerns in a school setting |
| Gottlieb Close Encounters | game | Gottlieb pinball machine; part of the current arcade lineup |
| Bally Aladdin's Castle | game | Bally pinball machine; part of the current arcade lineup |
| Williams Flash | game | Classic Williams pinball machine; part of the current arcade lineup |
| Gottlieb Mars God of War | game | Gottlieb pinball machine; part of the current arcade lineup; described by Finn as 'criminally underrated' |
| Legends Ultimate arcade cabinet | product | Modern arcade cabinet; part of the high school arcade room alongside pinball machines |
| Arcade1up Mortal Kombat Cocktail table | product | Arcade cocktail table; part of the high school arcade room |
| Seeberg Jukebox | product | Authentic vintage jukebox that plays 45s; final major addition to the arcade; curated to match songs from the school's 'Rock and Soul' production |
| Nudge Magazine | organization | Publication/website that published Finn's article; editor commented positively on the project in closing remarks |
| Facebook Marketplace | platform | Online marketplace where the $20 Fun Land machine was found; demonstrates accessibility of sourcing used pinball games |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pinball community engagement and next generation, DIY arcade creation and restoration, Classic pinball machines (Williams, Bally, Gottlieb era), School/institutional pinball installations
- **Secondary:** Sourcing used pinball machines affordably, Community building through pinball and arcade gaming, Pinball content creation and documentation, Machine curation and rotation in arcade settings

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.92) — Enthusiastic, celebratory tone throughout. Finn's narrative is proud and reflective of genuine passion for the project. Editor's closing remarks are highly complimentary and endorsing. No negative sentiment detected; even challenges (removed machines, space constraints) are framed as part of the organic evolution of the arcade.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** High school student successfully building and sustaining a pinball arcade with consistent student participation (weekly Friday gatherings), demonstrating pinball's appeal to the younger generation and capacity to create sustained community engagement in educational settings. (confidence: high) — Every Friday students come down to the School Arcade to blast 70's Classic Rock and play pinball, turning this insane outlandish passion project into a great experience most teenagers wouldn't get otherwise.
- **[venue_signal]** Successful grassroots creation of a functioning pinball arcade in a high school theater space, initially without explicit administrative approval, demonstrating viability of unconventional venue locations for pinball installations. (confidence: high) — My dad waited over the next couple weeks, expecting a call from someone higher up telling him to not build a makeshift speakeasy in a high school, but it never came.
- **[collector_signal]** Evidence of accessible pricing in secondary market for used EM machines (Fun Land for $20 on Facebook Marketplace), demonstrating affordability barriers to entry are low for projects willing to source used/condition-challenged machines. (confidence: high) — Someone told my dad about a 20 dollar pinball machine on Facebook Marketplace only about 10 minutes away from the school. The ad had just been posted.
- **[community_signal]** Pinball arcade functioning as an educational/mentorship space where experienced players teach newcomers, creating a self-sustaining cycle of knowledge transmission and community building. (confidence: high) — It's always great to teach someone where the credit button is for the first time and then see them teach others later.
- **[restoration_signal]** Project demonstrates willingness to work with machines in poor condition (Fun Land described as 'not in pristine condition') and curate collections pragmatically based on budget and space constraints rather than pursuing pristine examples. (confidence: high) — The game, an old EM called 'Fun Land,' was definitely not in pristine condition, but sure enough was set up before the show ended.
- **[design_philosophy]** Arcade designed with deliberate thematic coherence (Seeberg jukebox curated to match 'Rock and Soul' production setlist, LED sign custom-made), suggesting intentional user experience design beyond simple machine placement. (confidence: high) — An authentic Seeberg Jukebox which plays up to a hundred 45's with a carefully chosen collection of songs that mimics the setlist students play on stage during their 'Rock and Soul' production.
- **[regulatory_signal]** Removal of Bally Wizard and Speakeasy machines due to artwork and thematic concerns in a school setting, indicating institutional sensitivity to game content/imagery despite initial permissive environment. (confidence: high) — Wizard's art, which made it infamous in the 70's, was on the verge of getting us in trouble for the exact same reason 50 years later, and Speakeasy, although a great game, almost seemed like we were testing god a little with the theme.
- **[operational_signal]** Deliberate decision to reduce arcade from 5 to 4 machines to improve physical accessibility and circulation in a constrained space, indicating operator awareness of user experience beyond simple cabinet density. (confidence: high) — Eventually lowered to four so more people could more easily get around in there.
- **[content_signal]** Nudge Magazine platform actively publishing youth-generated pinball content and community narratives, with editorial support for emerging voices despite initial hesitation about featuring high school contributors. (confidence: high) — They're in high school and I hate kids!! The even bigger problem: It was actually kinda awesome and showed how pinball is showing up in the next generation.
- **[business_signal]** Tournament structure using low-cost prizes (replaced bumper caps, used 45s records) rather than cash payouts, suggesting sustainable community engagement model for resource-constrained venue operators. (confidence: medium) — Will sometimes even host free tournaments where the winner gets a replaced Bumper Cap or Pinball from one of the games, or more recently used 45's as we perfect the Jukebox set.

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## Transcript

How one High School Kid Turned a Nothing Room into More Pinball By Finn Garman A month or so ago, I got a letter from a reader who wanted to write something. The problem: They’re in high school and I hate kids!! The even bigger problem: It was actually kinda awesome and showed how pinball is showing up in the next generation. The resolution: OKie, we printing this thing. Thanks so much to Finn, a student in the Baltimore area getting through my Junior year of an engineering degree. Say hey if you’re in the area, he plays pinball at the Holy Frijoles pinball league and other spots around the city. Stay tuned in the future where we find out how this frickin guy smuggled a whole ass pinball machine into his dorm room. (For real). Thanks Finn! Let’s flip! What happens when we run out of pinball space at home, but a good deal comes along? You don’t buy the game Convert a high school tech closet into a miniature pinball arcade …We converted arcade. PART 1: THE ROOM OF NO REQUIREMENT Some years back my dad was looking around the theatre and had an interesting thought. The tech closet toward the entrance had long been used as a trashcan for outdated spotlights and miscellaneous wires that we imagine once went to sound systems and control panels lost in the decades since the building's construction. This room was forgotten and overlooked by anyone who had the courage to shut down my fathers vision. Shortly before a show he decided to buy a Williams “Super Star” pinball machine and placed it in the room. The students loved the idea and were more than willing to help out, decorating the room, and relocated the concessions stand to the newly opened pinball room. About half an hour before the show was about to start, someone told my dad about a 20 dollar pinball machine on Facebook Marketplace only about 10 minutes away from the school. The ad had just been posted, so naturally a student volunteered to pick it up. The game, an old EM called “Fun Land,” was definitely not in pristine condition, but sure enough was set up before the show ended. My dad waited over the next couple weeks, expecting a call from someone higher up telling him to not build a makeshift speakeasy in a high school, but it never came. From this point it was game on. Better to ask forgiveness than permission. PART II: GETTING THE BALL ROLLING The next game added was a Stern Wildfyre, and before you could blink a Bally Wizard! was next to it, and then a Bally Speakeasy. Though the lineup shifts often at its max there were five respectable games in this room, eventually lowered to four so more people could more easily get around in there. There was an adrenaline rush from building the coolest arcade we could from a modest budget, and we were having an absolute blast doing so. One particular student made a point to tell my dad that it wasn’t a real arcade, so naturally he made a point to add a game each time she said so. Eventually she realized it was a losing battle at game four. As the Arcade formed and evolved some games came and went. Wizard’s art, which made it infamous in the 70's, was on the verge of getting us in trouble for the exact same reason 50 years later, and Speakeasy, although a great game, almost seemed like we were testing god a little with the theme. Some of the other games ended up being gifted to some of the parents that supported the art program. Currently the room Hosts a Gottlieb Close Encounters, a Bally Aladdin’s Castle, a Williams Flash, and A Gottlieb Mars God of War (Criminally underrated game,) as well as a Legends Ultimate arcade cabinet and one of the Arcade1up Mortal Combat Cocktail tables. The arcade seemed to be a hit with students as the class of 2022 donated a custom LED sign which showed off proudly, “Garman’s Arcade: ALL PLAYERS READY.” The final addition to this room was an authentic Seeberg Jukebox which plays up to a hundred 45’s with a carefully chosen collection of songs that mimics the setlist students play on stage during their “Rock and Soul” production. Every Friday students come down to the School Arcade to blast 70’s Classic Rock and play pinball, turning this insane outlandish passion project into a great experience most teenagers wouldn’t get otherwise. It’s always great to teach someone where the credit button is for the first time and then see them teach others later. On top of this my dad will sometimes even host free tournaments where the winner gets a replaced Bumper Cap or Pinball from one of the games, or more recently used 45’s as we perfect the Jukebox set. Part III: More Pinball = Good Pinball This may not be the greatest arcade of all time, but for a High School, it doesn’t get much better. Damn, Finn. Sounds like a pretty righteous little spot you have over there. Makes me jealous that all we had was Smoker’s Corner — and absolutely ZERO pinball machines! Keep on keepin’ on! No Days OFF.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 434d3ca1-f654-4678-9e0f-85286317ad0c*